One more thing about homelessness and mental health - in a survey taken in my community, 37% of the homeless people said that they had mental health problems. I'm sure this number is different in other countries and other communities, but the number seems right for my community. The majority of homeless people here are "chronically homeless" - homeless for five years or more. And the majority of our homeless went to high school in our county, which refutes the claim by some that our homeless are outsiders who don't belong here.

I also began to hear the use of drugs and alcohol referred to as "self-medication," a term that makes a lot of sense to me. Homeless people often use drugs to dull the pain and misery of a life lived with inadequate food, shelter, sleep, medical care, and safety. Homeless people use the cheapest drugs they can find, because they can't afford anything more. It's a misconception that homeless people would be just fine if they didn't spend all their money on drugs and alcohol - homelessness is a complex and hopeless problem, any way you look at it. But it's amazing how people change after a few days in our shelter. Adequate sleep and nutrition works wonders.

-Joe-